By Michelle Alten
Run with the Wolfies: Myanmar (Burma) & Laos Blog – Day 1 –Yangon (Rangoon)
View of the golden stupa of the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon), the largest city in Myanmar.
People pouring water on a Buddha, asking for good fortune at their planetary post at the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon), the largest city in Myanmar.
A teenage girl with waterlily flowers for an offering (part of the prayer ritual) at the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon), the largest city in Myanmar.
Buddhist monks (novices) at the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon), the largest city in Myanmar.
We landed last night in the former capital of Burma, and I could imagine the days in the 19th century when the British controlled the country. On our first night we settled into the famous colonial Strand Hotel, a construction by the famous Sarkies brothers that built Raffles in Singapore. Today we were off to the Shwedagon Pagoda. Walking barefoot on the cool tiles, I circled the central main pagoda, passing Myanmar’s faithful as they prayed with beads, poured water on a Buddha—asking for good fortune—and rang a bronze bell signifying their good deeds. A young boy eagerly grasped the baton like a baseball bat and prepared to bang the bell, when his father gently corrected him, showing him how to tap gently with the end of the post.
People worshiping in front of the very impressive 65 meters long and 16 meters high Reclining Buddha at the Chaukhtetgyi Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon), the largest city in Myanmar.
After our visit, we flew north to Heho and boarded small wooden boats to travel to our inn on the shores of Inle Lake.
More to come – stay tuned!